THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP discussion
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New Release Books on WW2
I've noticed that there seems to be quite a few new books coming out on the Norway campaign, another one to add to the list.
If there's any better subjects than books & WWII it's both at once, this month :
The Book Thieves: The Nazi Looting of Europe's Libraries and the Race to Return a Literary Inheritance by Anders RydellWhat Kirkus says:
"Looting books by mainly Jewish owners, collections, and libraries was an effective way of stealing Jewish memory and history, as this thorough work of research by Swedish journalist and editor Rydell attests. From early bonfires of objectionable publications (by Thomas Mann and Stefan Zweig, among others) in Berlin in May 1933, staged by enthusiastic German student federations, to the desecration of synagogues and sacred texts on Kristallnacht to the methodical plundering of libraries in occupied areas during the war, Rydell ably delineates the spiraling destruction, city by city: Berlin, Munich, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Thessaloniki, Vilnius, Prague, etc. The Nazis believed libraries needed to be “cleaned up” and “un-German” literature destroyed—i.e., “degenerate,” “Communist,” Free Mason, and “Jewish” works. As the author emphasizes, however, the Nazis were not anti-intellectual; on the contrary, they were building a whole new “intellectual being, who did not base himself on values such as liberalism and humanism, but rather on his nation and race.” The most valuable books (e.g., antique and medieval works) were claimed by chief Nazi ideologue Alfred Rosenberg’s plundering organization, ERR, which grew into a frightening international organization focused on confiscating “thoughts, memories, and ideas” and enlisted intellectuals and academics as librarian foot soldiers. Rydell considers the millions of volumes confiscated, such as the priceless Yiddish library in Vilnius, essentially the repository for Ashkenazi history and culture. In the “model” concentration camp Theresienstadt, Hebrew scholars were saved from immediate murder by being forced to catalog the thousands of confiscated books in what was called the Talmud Command. Rydell visited many of the rehabilitated libraries (which are still sorting the stolen books), and he traces some of the volumes that have since been returned, such as a cherished book belonging to Berliner Richard Kobrak, deported with his wife to the gas chambers in Auschwitz in 1944."
Jerome wrote: "A July release:
by Bruce HendersonDescrip..."
Bruce had me review the manuscript, good book
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "One more new title to consider for those who enjoy accounts of WW2 snipers or the Eastern Front:
[book:Eastern Front Snipe..."I knew Matthias, interviewed him. I also graduated from the German Army Sniper School in 1984. He was a very interesting character
I'm interested in this because I actually interviewed one of the Ritchie boys for my wartime blog. You can read the post here: www.elinorflorence.com/blog/ritchie-boys
Description
In November 1942, American spymaster Allen Dulles slipped into Switzerland just before Nazi forces sealed the border. His mission: to report on the inner workings of the Third Reich. Code-named Agent 110 by the OSS, he was astounded to find a network of Germans—industrialists, students, diplomats and generals—conspiring to overthrow Hitler and negotiate a surrender to end World War II.
On back roads, in bedrooms, and high in the Alps, Dulles plotted with his ring of renegades who were risking and losing their lives. Yet Dulles was much more than a spy. At a time when the Soviet Union was an American ally, he was driven by the conviction that Moscow aimed to dominate postwar Europe and saw in the underground a chance to thwart communist ambitions.
Agent 110, An American Spymaster and the German Resistance in WWII brings this dangerous, dark period alive with chilling tales of spies, idealists and traitors matching wits in a vicious world. Dulles himself would eventually lead the CIA during the Cold War, driven by his wartime distrust of the Soviets.
Reviews
A … “rapid-fire spy story…” “Entertaining for both its historical insights into WWII and its dramatic narrative.”
—Kirkus Reviews
A “breath-catching narrative” with “wonderful details throughout.” “Miller…skillfully weaves a double narrative of Dulles’ machinations and those of the German resistance…”
—The Booklist
“Scott Miller has produced a real-life spy thriller with Allen Dulles in the leading role, neutral Switzerland as the stage, and the fate of Nazi Germany’s brave but often hapless resisters hanging in the balance. Agent 110 is a truly mesmerizing tale, illuminating the shadow war during the big war—and signaling the opening act of the Cold War.”
—Andrew Nagorski, author of The Nazi Hunters and Hitlerland
“If you are interested in how the United States was transformed from a nation of “gentlemen do not read each other’s mail” to our current surveillance state—and who isn’t?—Scott Miller’s Agent 110 will astonish you. Told with verve and grounded in history, Miller’s narrative brings fresh and human details to the story of how we defeated the Nazis and swiftly entered the Cold War. The complex and flawed spymaster Allen Dulles is a compelling central character.”
—Kati Marton, author of True Believer and The Great Escape
“Agent 110, set in Switzerland in the middle of World War II, has all the great ingredients of intrigue and suspense: spies, sex, traitors, heroes, even a famous psychiatrist, in a riveting narrative built around the plots to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Allen Dulles is a master spy to remember and Scott Miller’s book is a work of history one won’t forget.”
—Christopher Dickey, Foreign Editor, The Daily Beast
“Agent 110 shows how the legendary spymaster Allen Dulles, who was the CIA’s longest-serving director, learned his craft in World War II with the Office the of Strategic Services. This is a gripping and suspenseful tale of how Dulles plotted against Nazi Germany, negotiated the surrender of German forces in Northern Italy and viewed the Soviet Union warily at the beginning of the Cold War in which he would lead the CIA. Agent 110 has nothing in common with James Bond. This book explains masterfully what real spies do and what Allen Dulles did.”
—Charles Pinck, President, The OSS Society, Inc.
Thanks for the details on your new book Scott, I am sure it will interest a few members here in the group and I hope it does well on the market.
An October release:
by Victor Davis HansonDescription:
World War II was the most lethal conflict in human history. Never before had a war been fought on so many diverse landscapes and in so many different ways, from rocket attacks in London to jungle fighting in Burma to armor strikes in Libya.
The Second World Wars examines how combat unfolded in the air, at sea, and on land to show how distinct conflicts among disparate combatants coalesced into one interconnected global war. Drawing on 3,000 years of military history, Victor Davis Hanson argues that despite its novel industrial barbarity, neither the war's origins nor its geography were unusual. Nor was its ultimate outcome surprising. The Axis powers were well prepared to win limited border conflicts, but once they blundered into global war, they had no hope of victory.
An authoritative new history of astonishing breadth, The Second World Wars offers a stunning reinterpretation of history's deadliest conflict.
I'm spectical. Victor Davis Hanson can get political or be off the mark when he leaves the phalanx era.
Dimitri wrote: "I'm spectical. Victor Davis Hanson can get political or be off the mark when he leaves the phalanx era."Dimitri: Oh, so true. I've commented before on his tendency to allow his parallel career as a rightist pundit to bleed over into his writing of history. Politics corrupts history.
A November release:
by Richard Doherty Description:
The Battle of El Alamein is well established as a pivotal moment of the Second World War. Following the wildly fluctuating fortunes of the opposing sides, there was a real risk that Rommel's Afrika Korps and his Italian allies would break through and seize Cairo with catastrophic strategic and political implications for the Allies. That this never happened is, of course, well known but, as this highly readable yet authoritative work reveals, there were moments of extreme peril and anxiety.
Churchill's bold, nay desperate, decisions concerning key appointments, Montgomery's stubborn refusal to be rushed, Rommel's chronic logistic problems and critical air superiority are all examined in expert detail. The author's description of the actual fighting is brought to life by personal accounts as well as his complete grasp of the plan and tactics involved. The result, seventy-five years on, is a delightfully fresh and fascinating account of one of the iconic battles, not just of the War but in military history.
And a September release on the same subject:
by Glyn HarperDescription:
In the early years of World War II, Germany shocked the world with a devastating blitzkrieg, rapidly conquered most of Europe, and pushed into North Africa. As the Allies scrambled to counter the Axis armies, the British Eighth Army confronted the experienced Afrika Corps, led by German field marshal Erwin Rommel, in three battles at El Alamein. In the first battle, the Eighth Army narrowly halted the advance of the Germans during the summer of 1942. However, the stalemate left Nazi troops within striking distance of the Suez Canal, which would provide a critical tactical advantage to the controlling force.
War historian Glyn Harper dives into the story, vividly narrating the events, strategies, and personalities surrounding the battles and paying particular attention to the Second Battle of El Alamein, a crucial turning point in the war that would be described by Winston Churchill as "the end of the beginning." Moving beyond a simple narrative of the conflict, The Battle for North Africa tackles critical themes, such as the problems of coalition warfare, the use of military intelligence, the role of celebrity generals, and the importance of an all-arms approach to modern warfare.
Jerome wrote: "And a September release on the same subject: by Glyn HarperThis looks preferable to Doherty's, given the publisher. Whether either improves upon Barr's Pendulum of War remains to be seen.
An upcoming book worthy of consideration ~Case Red: The Collapse of France by Robert Forczyk
SLATED FOR RELEASE: November 21st, 2017
Summary
Although the story of the German Fall Gelb offensive against France, Belgium, and Holland in May 1940 is well known, most accounts tend to stop with the conclusion of the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) from Dunkirk on June 4, 1940. The German operation that actually conquered metropolitan France, Fall Rot (Case Red), is usually glossed over in brief. Nor are many people aware today that there was a second BEF in France, which was also successfully evacuated by sea. The current literature on the Western campaign of 1940 essentially spotlights the German drive to the English Channel and the Dunkirk evacuation then skips ahead to the French armistice, skipping over the military, political, and human drama of France's collapse in June 1940.
Indeed, some of the most interesting military operations of the 1940 campaign were conducted in June 1940, as the Allies mounted a vigorous counterattack at Abbeville (incl. the British 1st Armoured Division--the first time that the British Army employed an armored division in combat) and then mounted a tough defense along the Somme River. Unlike the easy breakthrough at Sedan, the Germans had to fight hard to break through the Weygand Line. Churchill decided to second a second BEF to France to support the French, but the Germans finally achieved a decisive breakthrough before it could be effectively deployed. The British were forced to mount a second evacuation from the ports of Le Havre, Cherbourg, Brest, and St. Nazaire, which rescued over 200,000 troops, although the transport RMS Lancastria was sunk by German bombers, with the loss of over 4,000 troops. While France was in its death throes, politicians and soldiers debated what to do--flee to England or North Africa or to seek an armistice.
The drama of the final three weeks of military operations in France in June 1940 has never effectively been captured on paper, but this is a story that needs to be told since it had great impact on the future course of World War II and Inter-Allied relations. This book will also address the initial German exploitation of France and how the windfall of captured military equipment, fuel and industrial resources enhanced the Third Reich's ability to attack its next foe--the Soviet Union.
Two good books there, thanks for posting the details Jerome and Komet.
An August 2017 release:
by Alf R JacobsenDescription:
In the early summer of 1941, German rock hunters under the command of General Eduard Dietl set out in northern Norway up through Finland to the Russian border. Operation Silberfuchs was underway. The northernmost section of the eastern front would ensure Hitler supplies of nickel from Finnish mines, and bring the strategically important port city of Murmansk under German control. The road-less quagmire terrain created major challenges for the German troop movements. Despite this, Dietl's men made quick gains on his Russian foe, and they came closer to Murmansk. Despite repeated warnings of a German attack, Stalin had failed to mobilize, and the British hesitated to come to the rescue of the Red Army.
But while the weather conditions steadily worsened, the Russians' resistance increased. Three bloody efforts to force the river Litza were repulsed, and resulted in warfare by riverbeds. The offensive would develop into a nightmare for those inadequately equipped German soldiers, who soon were in the minority on the Litzafronten.
In an exciting and authoritative narrative based on previously unknown material, Alf Reidar Jacobsen tells about the prelude and the heavy fighting that would lead to Hitler's first defeat on the Eastern Front. With firsthand accounts of the fighting on the front line, this is a dramatic new account of a forgotten but bloody episode of World War II.
And a September release:
by Michael KordaDescription:
In an absorbing work peopled with world leaders, generals, and ordinary citizens who fought on both sides of World War II, Alone brings to resounding life perhaps the most critical year of twentieth-century history. For, indeed, May 1940 was a month like no other, as the German war machine blazed into France while the supposedly impregnable Maginot Line crumbled, and Winston Churchill replaced Neville Chamberlain as prime minister in an astonishing political drama as Britain, isolated and alone, faced a triumphant Nazi Germany. Against this vast historical canvas, Michael Korda relates what happened and why, and also tells his own story, that of a six-year-old boy in a glamorous movie family who would himself be evacuated. Alone is a work that seamlessly weaves a family memoir into an unforgettable account of a political and military disaster redeemed by the evacuation of more than 300,000 men in four days―surely one of the most heroic episodes of the war.
Jerome wrote: "And a September release: by Michael KordaDescription:
In an absorbing work peopled with world leaders, general..."
This looks pretty good!
Below is a link to a review from the NY Times by Simon Sebag Montefiore of --
Stalin and the Scientists: A History of Triumph and Tragedy, 1905-1953 by Simon Ings.I've had an eye on this book, but Montefiore's review isn't a great endorsement.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/28/bo...
Manray9 wrote: "Below is a link to a review from the NY Times by Simon Sebag Montefiore of..."Was just about to add this one to my TBR. Might reconsider.
Mike wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "Below is a link to a review from the NY Times by Simon Sebag Montefiore of..."Was just about to add this one to my TBR. Might reconsider."
Mike: Montefiore is a credible commentator on things Soviet. I decided to pass on Ings' book.
Manray9 wrote: "Below is a link to a review from the NY Times by Simon Sebag Montefiore . I've had an eye on this book, but Montefiore's review isn't a great endorsement.https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/28/bo... "
Hmm... not comprehensive then, more the 'funny stories'. And no T-34 ? He alienates potential buyers from a certain Goodreads group.
Yep, you got it Dimitri!
A September release:
by Nicholas RankinDescription:
Two months before he shot himself, Adolf Hitler saw where it had all gone wrong. By failing to seize Gibraltar in the summer of 1940, he lost the war. The Rock of Gibraltar, a pillar of British sea-power since 1704, looked formidable but was extraordinarily vulnerable. Though menaced on all sides by Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Vichy France and Francoist Spain, every day Gibraltar had to let thousands of people cross its frontier to work. Among them came spies and saboteurs, eager to blow up its 25 miles of secret tunnels. In 1942, Gibraltar became US General Eisenhower's HQ for the invasion of North Africa, the campaign that led to Allied victory in the Mediterranean.
Nicholas Rankin's revelatory new book, whose cast of characters includes Haile Selassie, Anthony Burgess and General Sikorski, sets Gibraltar in the wider context of the struggle against fascism, from Abyssinia through the Spanish Civil War. It also chronicles the end of empire and the rise to independence of the Gibraltarian people.
Something different, thanks for posting the details Jerome.
The book looks intriguing! Thank you, Jerome.
Jerome posts, we TBR. It is the natural order of things.
That book sounds great, and I've added it to my wish list on Amazon so I don't forget about it.If the British lost Gibraltar somehow (they certainly went all out to keep Spain neutral), their effort in the Western Desert wouldn't probably be mostly unaffected because the supply lines already went around Africa to Egypt. On the other hand, it would have made Torch much harder since the Allies would only be able to invade Atlantic Morocco, and thus it would take much longer to reach Tunisia.
Nishant wrote: If the British lost Gibraltar somehow (they certainly went all out to keep Spain neutral), their effort in the Western Desert wouldn't probably be mostly unaffected because the supply lines already went around Africa to Egypt..."Without Gibraltar, the British would probably have lost Malta to the Germans and the Italians. Malta served as a linchpin in Britain's efforts to retain a presence in North Africa and the Mediterranean against the Axis Powers. From Malta, British air and naval vessels would harry German and Italian ships sending supplies to Rommel in the Western Desert during the height of the fighting there in 1941-42.
Reference source:
Malta: The Spitfire Year 1942 by Christopher Shores
Yes, without Gibraltar, Malta would definitely be way more vulnerable and perhaps would have been captured. I know that Vincent O'Hara has written saying that Malta's effectiveness at convoy disruption was small, especially compared with the costs of the convoys to succour Malta. It certainly would have been a huge blow to lose it, even just from the morale standpoint, but Egypt could probably be held. Of course, without an effective Torch, even a successful El Alamein may not have lead to the eventual capture of Tripoli and the expulsion of the Axis from North Africa.
Here are reviews of Tin Can Titans: The Heroic Men and Ships of World War II’s Most Decorated Navy Destroyer Squadron by John Wukovits.http://www.roanoke.com/arts_and_enter...
http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-...
McClung comparing Wukovits to Samuel Eliot Morrison is a bit of a stretch.
Manray9 wrote: "Here are reviews of Tin Can Titans: The Heroic Men and Ships of World War II’s Most Decorated Navy Destroyer Squadron by John Wukovits.http://www.roanoke.com/arts_and_enter......"
I'm just about done, should finish tonight. I really like the book and several others I've read by Wukovits, but comparing him to Morison is apples and oranges. Morison's writing contains mostly the facts of what happened, with very little from the individuals who were actually there. Wukovits weaves in much more personal history and accounts. Each one is a reflection of the changing ways in which history is presented.
Marc wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "Here are reviews of Tin Can Titans: The Heroic Men and Ships of World War II’s Most Decorated Navy Destroyer Squadron by John Wukovits.http://www.roanoke.com/arts_..."
Marc: There's quite a difference between scholarly and popular history writing.
This June 2017 release (UK) may be of interest to some group members:
Britain's Victory, Denmark's Freedom: Danish Volunteers in Allied Air Forces During the Second World War by Mikkel PlannthinDescription:
On 9 April 1940, German forces invaded Denmark. Within hours and without a real fight the government capitulated; cooperating with the Nazis in order to secure as much self-determination as possible. Not everybody accepted the surrender. Abroad, Danes mobilised to fight back. Men and women-whether they had escaped from Denmark, been involuntarily exiled by the occupation, or were emigrants-turned up at recruiting offices around the world, volunteering to fight for Denmark's freedom. More than 250 volunteered for the Allied air forces. This book offers the most comprehensive account of the Danish contribution to the Allied air forces of the Second World War ever written. It covers Danish pilots in Britain, Germany, and Coastal Command; their involvement in the air wars of the Mediterranean and the Balkans; service in the Far East and Pacific; as well as Danes on the ground, often far from the frontline.
For those who enjoy books on the Royal Navy during WW2 I had previously mentioned a new release title in this thread: "The Royal Navy in Eastern Waters: Linchpin of Victory 1935-1942". I am glad to see that the author is now a member of our group.
by Andrew Boyd
A September release:
by Edward E. GordonDescription:
In anticipation of the 75th anniversary of D-Day comes this fresh perspective on the Normandy invasion -- -the beginning of the end of World War II. The book highlights the conflicting egos, national rivalries, and professional abilities of the principal D-Day commanders who planned and executed the OVERLORD Operation and its aftermath. Two historians, one American and one British, show how lack of cooperation and bad decisions lengthened the war, increased casualties, and allowed the later Soviet domination of Eastern Europe.
From their in-depth analysis of past D-Day literature, primary and archival sources, the authors provide insightful answers to the many controversies that have long surrounded the OVERLORD campaign. Among the questions addressed are: What caused the two-month delay for the Allied breakout from the Normandy beachhead. Why did the bulk of the German army escape from the Falaise Pocket? Who stopped Patton's August 1944 advance into Germany? Why did it take so long to open the Port of Antwerp needed for securing the required supplies for the Allied advance into Germany?
The evidence presented in this book makes it clear that the problems raised by these questions and many other difficulties could have been avoided if the Allied commanders had been less contentious, a factor that sometimes led to catastrophic battlefield outcomes.
Complete with maps that illustrate the campaign's progression and photographs of the commanders and the forbidding battlefield terrain, this new examination of the war in Europe makes a major contribution to our understanding of the decision-making behind these pivotal historic events.
Another:
by Leo BarronDescription:
American troops invaded North Africa in November 1942, but did not face serious resistance until the following February, when they finally tangled with Rommel’s Afrika Korps—and the Germans gave the inexperienced Americans a nasty drubbing at Kasserine Pass. After this disaster, Gen. George Patton took command and reinvigorated U.S. troops with tough training and new tactics. In late March, at El Guettar in Tunisia, Patton’s men defeated the Germans. It was a morale-boosting victory—the first American success versus the Germans and the first of Patton’s storied World War II career—and proved to the enemy, the British, and the Americans themselves that the U.S. Army could fight and win.
Two new and interesting books, thanks for posting the details Jerome.
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "For those who enjoy books on the Royal Navy during WW2 I had previously mentioned a new release title in this thread: "The Royal Navy in Eastern Waters: Linchpin of Victory 1935-1942". I am glad to..."I've been eagerly awaiting this book's release since I first heard if it about 2 months ago,
I bet the author will be glad to hear that Nishant! :)
Jerome wrote: "A September release: by Edward E. GordonDescription:
In anticipation o..."
I sincerely hope this isn't a "blame the British for everything" book...
A January 2018 release:
by Alexei IsaevDescription:
In the history of war there are not that many battles that changed one side’s strategy over a considerable period of time, becoming not only a material, but also a psychological factor in decision making. A classic example of this is the Battle of Smolensk in 1941, which forced the German leadership to change their strategy for ‘Barbarossa’ and to deploy their troops towards the northern, and eastern flanks of the Soviet-German front. We can however find another example on the other side of the front line: this was the battle in the area around Kharkov in the winter of 1943, which had even more of an impact.
Following the simultaneous defeat of several of the shock troops on the two fronts and the loss of a large tract of territory the vector of Soviet strategy changed. A passive expectation of the enemy’s actions replaced the attacking momentum that was traditional for Soviet command. To begin with there were objective prerequisites: Red Army units were exhausted and had incurred heavy losses in the German counterattacks during February–March. By May 1943 however, when the troops had recuperated and reserves had been drawn up, the psychological factor continued to play a role. Recalling their bitter experience during the winter battles outside Kharkov the Supreme Soviet Command decided not to go on the offensive, but await the start of German offensive operations. Up until the very last day before the start of Operation ‘Citadel’ the Commander of the Voronezh front N.F. Vatutin was pleading, he demanded that precious summer days not be spent waiting for the enemy to attack but for the Red Army to take up the offensive themselves. All these proposals distracted supreme command, as they remembered Vatutin’s failures outside Kharkov a few months previously.
From a military historian’s point of view the battles outside Kharkov between February–March 1943 were dramatic maneuvering battles and the success of both sides hung in the balance on a daily basis. Operations such as these are always much more interesting than the tedious, meat grinding positioning for a ‘house in the forest’, that is abundant in the histories of both world wars. Maneuvering, the deployment of corps and divisions around an area to attack an enemy where they are most vulnerable, played a much more important role than the arithmetic of the numbers of tanks and guns. The steady equalization of both Soviet and German sides added spice to this menu of a classic maneuvering battle. During the course of the battle for Kharkov Soviet forces encountered a new, powerful enemy in the shape of the Panzer divisions of the SS. These were elite mechanized formations equipped with the latest technology, which were soon to become leading participants in decisive battles in the East and the West in the second half of the war.
Hmm... how much dough's Helion gonna choke out of us for 120 pages with photos ?
Good question Dimitri :)
Hello everyone,If like me you've been eagerly awaiting this book:
Then, you'll be overjoyed to know that Amazon.co.uk has it available, with the publish date moved back to March 20 from March 30: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1...
If the stock runs out, you can also buy it here:
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-R...
Of course, if you are more patient than myself, you can wait until it's published in the US on April 15 and probably save money.
I like your enthusiasm Nishant :)
Every time I read this thread, the TBR grows...
THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP
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Description:
The British campaign in Norway in 1940 was an ignominious and abject failure. It is perhaps best known as the fiasco which directly led to the fall of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and his replacement by Winston Churchill. But what were the reasons for failure? Why did the decision makers, including Churchill, make such poor decisions and exercise such bad judgement? What other factors played a part? John Kiszely draws on his own experience of working at all levels in the military to assess the campaign as a whole, its context and evolution from strategic failures, intelligence blunders and German air superiority to the performance of the troops and the serious errors of judgement by those responsible for the higher direction of the war. The result helps us to understand not only the outcome of the Norwegian campaign but also why more recent military campaigns have found success so elusive.